The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary » Matt McGloinhttp://thebuckeyebattlecry.com
An Ohio State blog for the Buckeye fan in all of us.Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:26:05 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1tBBC Kickoff Countdown Celebrates 52http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/admin/miscellaneous/tbbc-kickoff-countdown-celebrates-52.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tbbc-kickoff-countdown-celebrates-52
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/admin/miscellaneous/tbbc-kickoff-countdown-celebrates-52.html#commentsWed, 10 Jul 2013 12:01:07 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=34916 In today’s edition, we celebrate number 52, another Ohio State victory over Penn State on November 13, 2010, 38-14. This was, indeed, a tale of two very different half’s. After the Buckeyes opened up with a long drive that resulted in a FG, the offense couldn’t generate much for the balance of the 1st […]

In today’s edition, we celebrate number 52, another Ohio State victory over Penn State on November 13, 2010, 38-14.

This was, indeed, a tale of two very different half’s. After the Buckeyes opened up with a long drive that resulted in a FG, the offense couldn’t generate much for the balance of the 1st half. Meanwhile, Matt “Moxie” McGloin was having a big day with 2 TD passes as PSU held a 14-3 lead at halftime.

Coach Tressel must have had quite the halftime speech, as the Buckeyes won the 2nd half 31-0. ‘Boom’ Herron scored on a 5-yard run, Dane Sanzenbacher made a circus rebound reception for a TD (see above) and Jake Stoneburner grabbed a TD pass. Of course, it wouldn’t be an OSU-PSU game without the Nitts tossing a couple pick-6’s, and McGloin did not disappoint. Devon Torrance showed his ball handling skills with a tip-drill interception and Travis Howard had no trouble returning his interception.

The following highlight is a good one; it’s audio includes in-game commentary from Brent, Kirk, PSU radio network play-by=play and of course, the doleful commenter. Very enjoyable.

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/admin/miscellaneous/tbbc-kickoff-countdown-celebrates-52.html/feed0The Week That Were: 11.10.12http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/the-week-that-were-11-10-12.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-week-that-were-11-10-12
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/the-week-that-were-11-10-12.html#commentsMon, 12 Nov 2012 12:54:03 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=27911Oh, college football… How I love you!! Well, that happened. While a lot of people were saying that Alabama was ripe for a loss against a Texas A&M team that’s been playing really well over the past few weeks, most of this felt like lip service. You know, the kind of things that ESPN makes […]

While a lot of people were saying that Alabama was ripe for a loss against a Texas A&M team that’s been playing really well over the past few weeks, most of this felt like lip service. You know, the kind of things that ESPN makes one person say on the Gameday set in order to appear unbiased.

And then- “Johnny Football”.

There are a lot of reasons why Alabama lost- coming off of an emotional win on the road in Death Valley, LSU’s offense showed a lot of people the issues that the Tide have in their secondary, Saban’s fear of the high speed offense is based on his knowledge of his team’s weaknesses; but the fact of the matter is that the Aggies outplayed Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, in several key areas of the game.

The Crimson Tide defensive front was stifled, for the most part, by the aTm offensive tackles. Combined with concerns about a quarterback’s mobility, the Tide were not able to mount the type of disruptive pressure that they are so used to.

Alabama’s offense made key mistakes and turnovers, and seemed out of rhythm all night long. The three turnovers didn’t help, particularly when the Tide defense couldn’t get any of their own… and the mental errors were even more egregious. On the final interception, it seems to me that the receiver on the end of the line of scrimmage did a poor job getting depth in the end zone, making it easy for defenders to cover both him and the primary target. In addition, with Bama’s defense stiffening and forcing a punt, to have a member of their punt return/block team create a neutral zone infraction for an automatic first down is an aggressive penalty, but one that is terrible to have happen in that circumstance. Again, the intensity was there for the student in question, but the lack of focus eventually cost them a final chance at victory.

Yeah, He's Good

But we can’t miss the point here- this game was won by Johnny Manziel’s continual ability to make plays and put the Tide defense on their heels.

After the third week in a row with this type of performance (Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State), the redshirt freshman has lifted himself into Heisman candidacy- and for good reason. Given the lack of a clear “star” this year, given Matt Barkley’s struggles, the game this weekend was his “Flutie to Phelan” moment; outstanding performance in high profile opportunity. I’ll leave the debate to others, but will certainly enjoy watching the electricity that all of these candidates provide.

Even if he doesn’t win this year, you’ve got to think that next year’s Heisman race is going to be something spectacular- Braxton Miller, Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota, Teddy Bridgewater, Everett Gholston, Tahj Boyd, DeAnthony Thomas… and those are just the ones I’ve got off the top of my head.

Does this loss end the run of SEC titles in the final year of the BCS? Well, not exactly… more on this in a bit.

Perspective

So, with Alabama falling, you’d think that the Oregon Ducks would be the team to benefit the most readily, although they didn’t look ready for the part in a late start against Cal; they were in for a fight, at least early on. The game ended up out of hand as the Ducks turned on the after-Barners, but the first period made Ohio State fans excited, as an upset would bump one more team from the unbeaten ranks and would strengthen the perspective of the Buckeyes’ schedule. But, as we’ve already mentioned, the Ducks did what the Ducks do, and put 45 points on the Bears in the last three quarters, including 21 in the fourth. For a team that typically pulls the reigns back once the game is out of hand, I wonder if Oregon was trying to gain some style points for the voters. It worked for the Associate Press, who have them as the top team in the country after Saturday’s game.

Their victory didn’t come without a cost, though- they’ve now lost several of their defensive front to injuries, including some key backups. The good news? While the Ducks are playing better defense, their offensive philosophy means that they only need one or two stops a game… similar to the old Loyola Marymount basketball teams who’d be OK with your squad scoring 115 while they hung 135 on you.

The BCS wasn’t as kind to the Ducks, though, leaving them at #3 behind Kansas State and Notre Dame. You’ve got to wonder if the computers are aware that beating Oklahoma at home is nice, but not really all that special anymore. The WildKats took care of their business against the Horned Frogs of TCU, under the watchful gaze of Kid from Kid-N-Play. Notre Dame continued to roll, winning their “Catholic Clash” against Boston College and the Bollman Offense, but only doing so by a couple of scores. In addition, it looks like the Luck Of The Irish continues… better to be lucky than good, amIrite?

Finally

Speaking of officiating, let’s take a moment to visit the comedy of errors that continues to be the B1G conference, with two particular games highlighted this week. First, let’s take a look at TTUN’s overtime victory against Northwestern, one that saw the Wildcats penalized 8 times for 75 yards to the Wolverines 2 flags for 26 yards. While the numbers might be interesting enough, given that the game was in Ann Arbor, it was the “non-calls” that seemed the most egregious- several plays had Coach Fitzgerald frustrated at the lack of accountability. When a flag was finally thrown late in the game, you can see his enthusiasm; in part because he imagined that this late decision would mean an important road win for his team.

Unfortunately, though, they could not manage the same success that A&M had against Alabama, and needed to punt the ball back to Michigan with mere seconds on the clock and a ton of yardage to gain. At this point, though, it was probably for the best that Denard Robinson missed the game with continued nerve issues in his elbow- backup Devin Gardner has a much stronger arm of the two, and was better suited for Michigan’s best passing play- “Throw it deep and hope for the best”. A great, heads up play by Roundtree and some poor volleyball by the Northwestern defender, and Gardner was able to spike the ball to set up the game tying field goal. Although… that certainly looks like a backward pass to me, and might have been best called a fumble. The rest, of course, is predictable and really reminiscent of Ohio State’s win over Purdue- TTUN scored on the first series of OT and stuffed Northwestern on their plays from scrimmage to hold on for the win and to keep their hopes alive for a Divisional Title. Which would be that much easier with a Nebraska loss.

But that wasn’t to be, in spite of Penn State opening a two touchdown lead in the first half. The Cornhuskers, as they’ve done all year, managed to overcome that deficit and eke out a 9 point win, holding Nebraska to only a field goal in the second half. Or did they?

Controversy

The play of the game, particularly if you’re Matt McGloin, was a late dive toward the endzone by a PSU tight end that looked to cross the goal line but was called a fumble by the officials on the field following a huge hit by defenders. The replay staff held that there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn that call, and Nebraska dodged a bullet.

It’s also why, in my opinion, if all of the top four teams win out you’ll see Alabama and Oregon in the National Championship game with Notre Dame and Kansas Sate on the outside looking in. Oregon will have defeated a ranked Stanford, a two loss Oregon State, and will have won their CCG against a ranked USC/UCLA- which will help their schedule strength, the only thing that the computers have docked them for. Notre Dame will only have beaten USC, and Kansas State has Baylor and Texas left- both teams that have struggle. Meanwhile, Alabama will have to have defeated #5 Georgia in their conference championship game- KSU and ND not having a CCG will be their downfall, in my opinion.

And, if this is the way things work out, I’m OK with it. Alabama is still one of the top programs in the country, and I think could beat KSU and ND. However, this goes to prove that our discussion of “What does ‘champion’ mean, and how do you prove it?” is still valid… even a one and done playoff only proves that a team might be able to matchup well against an opponent for a single game (*coughBoiseStatecough*)

Across the nation- The ranks of the undefeateds continue to dwindle, though, as Louisville realizes that you actually should look into playing defense on occasion. The ranks of the unemployed are more than likely growing, with Tennessee’s Derek Dooley first rumored on the chopping block after their loss to Missouri in four overtimes. Gene Chizik is right there beside him, though- Auburn was shut out by Georgia, who has earned a berth in the SECCG.

Things I wish I could have bet money on- when talking with Eric prior to this week’s slate of games, I mentioned that I thought it was cool that Texas was lining up in the wishbone to honor Darryl Royal, former Longhorn coach and creator of the formation. I also said that I thought they’d probably run a trick play and throw deep out of the formation:

Also in Indiana- Wabash blanked DePauw to retain the Monon Bell. Sometimes evil triumphs, I guess.

Ohio State returns to action this week- tBBC will have all of your Badger coverage, so stay tuned. Other games of note this Saturday include Oklahoma traveling to West Virginia for the “Heisenberg Bowl”, and Texas Tech squaring off against T. Boone Pickens University. The eyes of the nation will be on the Pac12, with cross-town rivals USC and UCLA trying to out “bro” each other, while Oregon’s top rated running game meets Stanford’s top ranked rushing defense.

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/the-week-that-were-11-10-12.html/feed1The Buckeyes Remain Unbeaten, Defeating Penn State 35-23http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/the-buckeyes-remain-unbeaten-defeating-penn-state-35-23.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-buckeyes-remain-unbeaten-defeating-penn-state-35-23
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/the-buckeyes-remain-unbeaten-defeating-penn-state-35-23.html#commentsSun, 28 Oct 2012 00:47:12 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=27479That may have been the most satisfying win of the season. The Buckeyes went into insanely hostile Beaver Stadium and shook off a tough first half to knock off the Penn State Nittany Lions 35-23 to take sole possession of first place in the Leaders Division. The 9-0 Buckeyes were led by Braxton Miller’s legs […]

The Buckeyes went into insanely hostile Beaver Stadium and shook off a tough first half to knock off the Penn State Nittany Lions 35-23 to take sole possession of first place in the Leaders Division. The 9-0 Buckeyes were led by Braxton Miller’s legs as he went 124 yards for 2 touchdowns on 24 carries. He also threw the ball 19 times for 7 receptions netting 143 yards and a touchdown. Carlos Hyde was relatively bottled up for the game, and only picked up 54 yards on his 20 carries, but he did pick up an important touchdown at the end of the first half. For his part, Matt McGloin had a good game throwing the football, picking up 327 yards and 2 touchdowns on 27/45 throwing.

It seems like this team is making baby steps in the right direction. They still struggle at times early in ballgames, but they did an excellent job continuing to chip away at the Nittany Lions defense. While things weren’t easy in the first half, they managed to go into the locker rooms tied at 7. Braxton and company then ran away with the game and did enough to hold off the inevitable Penn State 4th quarter comeback attempt. A great throw to Jake Stoneburner over the middle in single coverage with only 6 minutes left in the game basically sealed the deal as Stoneburner went 72 yards for the longest touchdown of his career.

I can’t say enough about how good the defense looked in this game. While they still gave up a few big plays, and they still struggle in coverage, they made good plays all over the field. Penn State had a very hard time running the football, collecting only 32 yards on 28 attempts for the game. It makes you wonder if the defense doesn’t sometimes “play down” to their opponents, and blow off games they expect will be easy at times. It could also simply be that Penn State’s offense plays better to our defensive strengths, but it’s hard to ignore that the two best defensive efforts this year have come against Michigan State and Penn State.

Not a Sad Panda, but close enough

Positives:

1. The defense in general was much improved today. A couple questionable decisions, but they held PSU scoreless in the first quarter with some good play. PSU’s adjustments began to get them moving, but the defense continued to do a solid job in making life difficult for McGloin and the Penn State offense.

2. Defensive QB pressure. We haven’t seen a lot of it this year, but we got a lot on Matt McGloin during this game. A number of players picked up sacks, 4 to be exact for 37 yards in losses, and more than a few hurries. All in all, the blitz calls were much improved over previous games.

3. Extra effort from Buckeye players. Jake Stoneburner especially gets props for this with his great catch, but better fight to earn the first down early in the game. Bradley Roby put in the extra effort to deflect a pass in the endzone after being faked out of position. Braxton Miller gave a fantastic fake hand-off on a read play and put in the extra effort to evade the blitzers for the touchdown. All over the field, the Buckeyes looked like they were actually buying in to the 4-6 seconds of constant effort message.

4. When the offense really focuses on what needs to be done, they’re nearly impossible to stop. That drive before the end of the first half was a thing of beauty against a reasonably competent defense. They also put together some great long drives with the running game during the second half, when things really started to get rolling. It’s almost like this offense works better when the defense is gassed.

5. Shazier. What a great way to honor a friend. Shazier wears the #48 for his friend Gary Curtis who passed away recently, and picks up a sack and a pick-6 to open the second half. What a huge game changing drive made possible by Shazier’s great play.

6. Adam Griffin. Great to see Adam make a play on special teams, especially one as critical as stopping the fake punt. Well deserved celebration for him.

Negatives:

1. Early playcalling. There were a couple questionable calls, including running the wildcat with Carlos Hyde on 3rd and 1. Yes, it could have been an effective play, but run it when we aren’t desperate for the down.

2. The long plays for the other team. Stop me if I sound like a broken record, but the defense is still struggling to stop the big plays. Worse yet, they compound the problem with poor tackling and terrible angles that turn it into an even bigger play. This needs to stop, but I don’t know if they can fix it this year.

3. Missed Interceptions. I shouldn’t complain too much about them, especially since Penn State missed more than a few, but it’s still frustrating to see the defense drop a couple easy ones. This is especially true for Christian Bryant’s. It was a pick 6 from the OSU 10 that hit him in the hands and he simply dropped it. Gotta catch those opportunities.

4. Our special teams are exactly that sometimes – special. The Blocked punt was a serious game changer at a tight moment of the game. It’s yet another case where our special teams “got cute”. We need to just run the basic stuff and worry about getting cute when we’re more consistent with the fundamentals.

Next up are the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, November 3rd at a 3:30 PM. You’ll be able to see that game on the Big Ten Network.

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/the-buckeyes-remain-unbeaten-defeating-penn-state-35-23.html/feed3What Do You Want To See On Saturday? Penn Statehttp://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/what-do-you-want-to-see-on-saturday-penn-state-2.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-do-you-want-to-see-on-saturday-penn-state-2
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/what-do-you-want-to-see-on-saturday-penn-state-2.html#commentsFri, 26 Oct 2012 11:00:37 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=27459Malibuckeye Kenny G. We talk about this a lot; implying that Ohio State should be ahead enough to get the backup some time. However, after Saturday’s performance, the “old right-hander” has deserved a series or two… mmmm, smooth jazz. Pick Six U. It’s a legacy for the Lions, and even something McGloin has been a […]

Malibuckeye

Kenny G. We talk about this a lot; implying that Ohio State should be ahead enough to get the backup some time. However, after Saturday’s performance, the “old right-hander” has deserved a series or two… mmmm, smooth jazz.

Pick Six U. It’s a legacy for the Lions, and even something McGloin has been a part of. PSU loves to work the short passing game, it would be amazing to continue this part of the “curse” that we have on their season.

Silence. OK, you can’t really “see” silence, but taking the crowd out of this game will be important.

Poise. Maybe if I write it this way, the offense will focus enough to not have any you know whats.

Linebacker? You. On the first play Saturday, Ohio State’s LB corps put them in a difficult hole with poor play. The Lions run a no-huddle offense that looks to get a lot of plays on the board- over ninety for the past two weeks. Having the players at this position step up and own it will go a long way to slowing down PSU’s short passing game.

Janelle

Fast Start. Hit the ground running and do not look back. This team has started slow in virtually every game this year. Let’s put it all together from the beginning.

Silence the Crowd. Nothing more obnoxious than 106,000 PSU fans all dressed in white…and I’ll be right there in Beaver Stadium among them proudly wearing scarlet and gray. Take them out of the game early, please.

Pick Six University. I’d hate to see such a wonderful tradition come to an end, so let’s not let it. Looking at you, secondary. Don’t let me down.

Just win, baby! Most of you know that I have a personal aversion to Penn State, and I’m going to be in Happy Valley for the game this weekend as I said. I don’t care if it’s by one point, by ten, or if it’s a blowout (although I’d really enjoy seeing a blowout), just WIN.

Joe L.

More of this please...in a timely fashion.

Linebacker Play. Shazier played his best game last weekend and want to see that continue.

No Injuries. I think there was 6 times our players were down on the turf last weekend.

Turnover Battle. Obviously this is a key to all games but against a team that will really benefit from a short field this will be very important this week.

Road Win. Wins on the road are never easy – especially in Happy Valley. It will probably be ugly, but a win is a win.

WVaBuckeye

Explain it to them. I’ve had trouble understanding in the past how there can be such a hated rivalry between PSU and the Buckeyes in football when there’s great respect in basketball. In honesty it doesn’t matter. Explain to them how we feel about it now and show them the new improved brand of Buckeye football.

Catch the football. For two straight weeks, dropped passes has allowed two teams to hang with us early. Maybe this is why Chris Fields has emerged. Great hands and size to boot and definitely tough to bring down. The rest of the gang has to get stick em. No excuses for dropped balls by 15 and 16

Smash Mouth Football. Take it too them and gain control early. It might be the best D the Buckeyes have faced all year but they play right into our strengths. Run over them early and often.

Gary

The First Half Counts. Every week we continue to get out of the gates slowly. With 106,000 Penn State fans (which absolutely despise us), we can’t afford to do it again. This kind of play will bite us eventually.

Fields on the Field. Up until last weekend you could have polled 100 Buckeye fans and 99 of them probably couldn’t have been able to tell you who Chris Fields was. Last week showed his ability to make catches, both easy and hard. With him on the field, the Penn State defense should have to worry about more than just the OSU backfield.

Un-Happy Valley. With the major disrespect that Lions’ fans treat our football team and fans, nothing would be better than to shut them up for another year. In order to do this, I feel the LB’s and DB’s absolutely NEED to step up this week in defense of the PSU passing game. Shut down the passing game and you shut up their fans!

Eric

This needs to happen this weekend. Lots of this.

A one game return of “Moxie” McGloin.McGloin has been an interception machine in prior years. I have to give him kudos for the hard work he’s obviously put in towards making himself a more

reliable and consistent quarterback. However, I want the interception machine back for one game.

Consistent Defensive Communication. It seems the defense is struggling with the basic premise of communicating with their teammates. That needs to become a thing of the past, post haste.

No injuries. I understand football injuries happen, but the ludicrous quantity of injuries we sustained against Purdue simply must be returned in full with an injury free game. Balance the scales, right Universe? ….Universe?

A win. Before the season began, I expected Penn State would go 3-9 on the year, with one of their wins being….against the Buckeyes. It had all the hallmarks: a desperate team, playing at home, against their “rival” (by the way Nits, I don’t buy that crap either – go make a rivalry with Northwestern, they want the attention). The stage was set for an ugly, ugly loss. But now? Penn State is a hair’s breadth from being the class of the B1G. That simply cannot be allowed to pass.

Tim

Quiet the Crowd. There’s no better feeling than silencing the opposing crowd with a big play early in the game. I’ve been at the last two games at Beaver Stadium and when OSU made a big play early in those games, you could hear a pin drop.

The Real Linebacker U. Penn State technically has the name “Linebacker U” but I still don’t know why. I want to see the OSU linebackers all over the field and showing them which group really is better. The OSU linebackers are due.

Braxton’s Health. Still questioning how effective Braxton will be on Saturday. All signs from practice point to him being okay, but I want to see him shake somebody out of their shoes on the field first. Then we can all breathe easy.

Fan Thoughts.

I want to see them play all 4 quarters at 110%. Silence the crowd except for us Buckeye fans traveling to support them! O-H-I-O!! – Angie (@atj1971).

I am just plain curious to see if this O’Brien team plans to play with this same fire down the stretch. – Oliver Twist (@FightOnTwist)

Consistency. It seems we follow a great o drive with a d meltdown, or a d stand with a 3 and out. Can we put it all together? – Peter Roser (@PitaTheBread)

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/what-do-you-want-to-see-on-saturday-penn-state-2.html/feed2One Fan's Opinion: Penn Statehttp://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/one-fans-opinion-penn-state.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=one-fans-opinion-penn-state
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/one-fans-opinion-penn-state.html#commentsFri, 10 Aug 2012 17:44:37 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=25459The post One Fan's Opinion: Penn State appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
]]>Our friend Janelle checks in with a unique perspective on the school in Happy Valley.

Schadenfreude

I hate Penn State.

No, really, I loathe Penn State.

Now, when I tell people this these days, I’ll get responses telling me to have a heart and to have some sympathy for what they’ve been going through the past nine months.

They don’t realize that I grew up in Penn State territory, about an hour and a half away from State College. My dad is a Penn State fan. My grandparents are Penn State fans. My brother and sister-in-law are Penn State alumni. My mom and I are the lone ones that wear scarlet and gray in a sea of blue and white on football Saturdays in the fall.

As a kid, my dad used to take me to Penn State games to try to convince me to become part of “Nittany Nation.” It never worked. I was destined to be part of Buckeye Nation from day one. But I never imagined I would end up hating Penn State like I do.

Recently, I’ve spent time trying to find out where exactly my hatred for the Nittany Lions comes from.

It isn’t their players (although players like Moxie McGloin add fuel to the fire). It isn’t the school itself (I mean, it’s a school in the middle of nowhere…and since I go to Ohio State, The Best D&%# School in the Land, all I can do is feel sorry for students who end up in Happy Valley and not in Columbus). Up until recently, it wasn’t the coaching staff (although, even before this Sandusky scandal, I was never a Joe Paterno “fan”…as the rest of the world is finally starting to see, he was held in an almost god-like light by his supporters, and had way too much power over an entire town and even state). It’s not the new coaching staff.

No, my hatred comes from Penn State’s fans. It honestly has to be one of the worst fan bases in the entire country.

When Terrelle Pryor was making his decision about where he was going to play college football, Penn State fans were all excited about the prospect of him in a blue and white uniform. They were convinced that Tom Bradley would convince TP to play for them. When he chose Ohio State, suddenly, their fans were saying things like “he’s not that good,” “we didn’t really want him anyway,” etc.

Then more recently, when they recruited Rob Bolden (who, as we all know has since taken his talents to LSU), they were all excited about him because he was supposedly, according to some Penn State fans I know, Michael Robinson Part II. As they found that he was not even close to being M-Rob, they quickly threw him under the bus.

Now, I’m not saying that Penn State’s fan base is the only one that practices these behaviors, but they certainly have mastered them.

Oh, Sweet Irony...

Worse than those types of behaviors was the extreme arrogance that existed among them before the recent events transpired. When Ohio State went through its NCAA issues in 2011, Penn State fans were quick to point fingers and laugh at Buckeye Nation. They were quick to take shots at our players and Jim Tressel. I even remember the “Liars” and “Legends” t-shirt made with Tressel’s vest on the back and Joe Pa’s glasses on the front. Many of them were also pleased to see a 6-6 season last year and a bow ban given to us by the NCAA for the coming year.

The “it would never happen here” high horse attitude was worse than ever, and I was living right in the thick of it. Throughout Central PA, I would get chastised for wearing my Ohio State gear. They’d question why I wasn’t embarrassed to wear it because of what had happened. I chose to keep quiet. I knew we’d get back on track in short order, and as I write this, I’m smiling thinking of how great the Buckeyes are going to be under the direction of Urban Meyer.

Anyways, back to the Penn State fans…they’re some of the worst I’ve seen, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that seeing them get a serving of humble pie lately hasn’t given me a small bit of satisfaction inside. And I’d also be lying if I said that the fact that they’re probably headed for a less than impressive football season isn’t giving me a little bit of joy as well. Sue me. I dealt with jibes from family members who love Penn State over what happened to Ohio State all of last year and even into this year somewhat. It is their turn to deal with some down time for their team.

The difference is I’m just going to sit back, sip my tea, and watch them go through this instead of shoving it in their face as they did to me. Yes, I’m sure there will be days where I might feel sorry for them, but not enough to make me stop hating them.

And definitely not enough for me not to want the Buckeyes to absolutely obliterate them when the time comes for us to play them this season.

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/one-fans-opinion-penn-state.html/feed8Ranking the 2012 Big Ten Quarterbacks- One Fan's Opinionhttp://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/ranking-the-2012-big-ten-quarterbacks-one-fans-opinion.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ranking-the-2012-big-ten-quarterbacks-one-fans-opinion
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/ranking-the-2012-big-ten-quarterbacks-one-fans-opinion.html#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2012 11:50:35 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=25102Tim checks in again looking at the guy behind the guy behind the guy across the B1G Throwing the forward pass is a big question mark for the majority of Big Ten quarterbacks. Their athleticism, though, is not. Many of the 2012 Big Ten starting quarterbacks are doing everything they can to fight the stereotype […]

]]>Tim checks in again looking at the guy behind the guy behind the guy across the B1G

Throwing the forward pass is a big question mark for the majority of Big Ten quarterbacks. Their athleticism, though, is not.

Many of the 2012 Big Ten starting quarterbacks are doing everything they can to fight the stereotype of “game manager.” For a conference usually classified by others as boring, I see only four of the 12 projected starters as “pro-style” quarterbacks; the rest can be classified as “dual-threats” or “athletes.”

With that said, I give to you my 2012 Big Ten quarterback rankings.

Last? I haz a sad..

12. Matt McGloin (Penn State): McGloin has started ten games in his Nittany Lion career, but just hasn’t gotten any better. However, he’s far and away PSU’s best option at quarterback. Last year, McGloin threw for 1,571 yards with 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. With the Penn State program in such turmoil, it would be nice if they had a savior at quarterback. Matt McGloin is not that.

11. Tre Roberson (Indiana): Although he was just a true freshman, Roberson struggled as Indiana’s starting quarterback last year. His rushing ability can make him a dangerous player for defense to account for. And in Roberson’s defense, he plays for Indiana.

10. Andrew Maxwell (Michigan State): Maxwell sat behind Kirk Cousins for two seasons, not getting many opportunities to show off his talent. Inexperience is the reason why I have Maxwell ranked where I do. He’s got the physical skills, but just simply hasn’t played in enough games yet for me to rate him any higher than ten.

9. Kain Colter (Northwestern): Colter may not be the best natural quarterback for the Wildcats, but he’s definitely their best athlete. In addition to quarterback, he also spent time playing running back and wide receiver for Northwestern. In 2011, Colter threw for 673 yards and six touchdowns, ran for 654 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 43 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns. For Northwestern, it is simple: Get him the damn ball.

8. Caleb TerBush (Purdue): From everything I’ve heard, Purdue doesn’t even know who its starting quarterback is going to be. It’s a race between TerBush and Robert Marve, who has been playing college football for about fifteen years now. My guess is the Boilermakers will go with TerBush, who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.

Resume: Not Ron Zook

7. MarQueis Gray (Minnesota): Gray has all of the physical tools to be an All-Big Ten selection. The 6’4” 240 quarterback has a deadly combination of size and speed, but he hasn’t lived up to all of his hype—now entering his senior season. He did take major strides last season, though, under coach Jerry Kill. Gray threw for nearly 1,500 yards last season and ran for 966, scoring 14 total touchdowns. But, like Roberson, Gray does not have much help as he plays for a team that finished 3-9 last season.

6. Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois): Illini fans were left wanting more from Scheelhaase in 2011. After a very promising freshman campaign in which he threw for over 1,800 yards, ran for 868 yards and scored 22 total touchdowns, Scheelhaase showed little improvement in h is sophomore season. In fact, many Illinois supporters say he took a step backwards during his sophomore campaign. He threw for just 13 touchdowns and ran for 624 yards. Losing superstar wide receiver A.J. Jenkins won’t make things easier for him either, but Scheelhaase is another dual-threat quarterback that has the ability to drive opposing coaches crazy.

Helloooo, Vandenberg's Mom!

5. Taylor Martinez (Nebraska): Death, taxes and Taylor Martinez driving Nebraska fans crazy. These three things are certain in life. As brilliant as Martinez can be with his legs at moments, he can be equally as awful with his decision-making. If Martinez eliminates those “What was he thinking?” moments in 2012, he can easily be a top three quarterback in the conference. But don’t bet on that. Some things just aren’t meant to be.

4. James Vandenberg (Iowa): Looking for the best pure passer in the Big Ten? It’s Vandenberg. Not heavily recruited out of high school, Vandenberg showed big-time ability last year in his first full season as a starter. He threw for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns, while only throwing seven interceptions. He still seems to be flying under the radar, too. News flash for Iowa opponents this year: James Vandenberg is really good.

3. Danny O’Brien (Wisconsin): Is it too soon to call the Badgers “Former ACC Quarterback U?” Last year it was Russell Wilson. This year, the Badgers’ starter will be former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien. He has plenty of experience, throwing for over 4,000 yards in his Terrapin career. However, that was mostly against ACC competition. I’m anxious to see how O’Brien handles playing in the Big Ten. Wisconsin’s always solid offensive line and running game should take a bit of pressure off, though.

But can he pass?

2. Braxton Miller (Ohio State): I know what you’re saying, Buckeye fans, and it is not ridiculous that I do not have Miller as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten. In fact, I had a tough time putting him ahead of O’Brien. When it comes down to it, Miller has a long way to go to become an elite quarterback in college football. There is no question about his athleticism; he showed on multiple occasions last year he is capable of breaking any big play with his legs. I do, however, have some concerns with Miller’s ability to throw the ball, and you should too. Although he was just a freshman last year, Miller struggled to even throw a spiral at times. Many Buckeye fans are hopeful Miller will thrive under Urban Meyer, and I believe that he will.

1. Denard Robinson (Michigan): This may not be a popular choice on this site, but it is the right choice. Denard Robinson is a superstar at the collegiate level. All he did last season was total 3,349 yards and 36 touchdowns. He enters 2012 as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Like most quarterbacks in this conference Robinson’s strength is with his legs and not his arm. With Robinson under center for his final season, the maize and blue will be right there in contention for a Big Ten title.

With all of these dual-threat quarterbacks, the Big Ten is in the midst of something it has never seen before. But I can tell you one thing: It sure will be fun to watch.

]]>http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/ranking-the-2012-big-ten-quarterbacks-one-fans-opinion.html/feed7Buckeyes Fall Short On Senior Day, Lose 20-14 to Penn Statehttp://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/buckeyes-fall-short-on-senior-day-lose-20-14-to-penn-state.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=buckeyes-fall-short-on-senior-day-lose-20-14-to-penn-state
http://thebuckeyebattlecry.com/college-football/ohio-state-football/buckeyes-fall-short-on-senior-day-lose-20-14-to-penn-state.html#commentsSat, 19 Nov 2011 23:34:34 +0000http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/?p=19441It was a memorable Senior Day in Columbus, although not the memories that Buckeye fans were hoping for. Ohio State’s offense continued to struggle against a solid PSU defense, and the Buckeye D were unable to effectively stop the big plays as Penn State moved to a Wildcat package to have success running the ball. […]

]]>It was a memorable Senior Day in Columbus, although not the memories that Buckeye fans were hoping for. Ohio State’s offense continued to struggle against a solid PSU defense, and the Buckeye D were unable to effectively stop the big plays as Penn State moved to a Wildcat package to have success running the ball.

After returning from his 10 game suspension, Devier Posey received a warm welcome at his introduction during the Senior celebration; there was speculation that the fans might not have responded well to the last member of the Tat 5. His presence helped in the game, but in the end it wasn’t enough.

Ohio State deferred to the second half, and PSU started on the OSU 20 after a huge kick. However, on the first play, Howard committed pass interference after biting on the play action. OSU’s D managed to shut out the Lions on first and second down, but gave up a slant for the first. PSU went to the wildcat, with Drake taking the snap and handing off to Green; who burst up the middle (and past Ryan Shazier) and ran 39 yards for the early PSU touchdown.

Ohio State’s Offense started with a run up the middle. Surprise, right? Miller took a sack on second down, and completed a pass to DeVier on a broken play. A pass to Herron on first down fell incomplete, but Miller’s keeper on the option look picked up eight yards; Boom picked up the first down off tackle. Boom was tripped up after a three yard gain on first down, but picked up nothing on the second. A fumbled snap on third down, and Buchanan came out and punted into the endzone.
When Penn State started their second drive, a play action pass was broken up on a big hit. Second down saw PSU toss another incompletion (after review). Third and ten for the Lions, and they completed a first down pass to the tight end. The Wildcat formation returned, for a gain of only one yard. Green’s run up the middle went for three yards, and the Lions picked up the first on an off tackle run. Fullback dive for no gain, pass off of the hands of the receiver, and PSU was facing third down again. The Moxie was still flowing, and McGloin had another completion for a PSU first down. Silas Redd picked up seven in an off tackle lead play; and got the first on the next play. No gain on first down, and a deep toss to the endzone fell flat. Third down was incomplete, and PSU kicked a field goal to go up 10-0 toward the end of the first quarter.

On the ensuing kick, Jordan Hall managed to gain the 23 yard line, where the Ohio State offense began their second series. Carlos Hyde took the direct snap in the Wildcat, and gained 4 yards through A gap. A lead draw picked up the first down, and Ohio State went play action on first down- leading to a dump off to Boom for no gain. Penn State committed a facemask, giving Ohio State a first down after a broken pass play at the end of the first quarter. A first down run resulted in no gain and a illegal formation penalty; Ohio State’s 1-15 play resulted in a 5 yard gain on Braxton’s keeper. A second down pass was a bit underthrown, and the 3-11 play resulted in an amazing one hand grab by Devier Posey. A screen to Hyde fell incomplete, while Braxton picked up 8 yards on second down. Ohio State scored on a QB draw thanks to an amazing set of downfield blocks; Basil nailed the extra points to bring the score to 10-7.

The deep kick was returned from the goal line to the 18, where Curtis Grant made the stop. Silas Red was punished after a three yard run, but took the next counter play for 42 yards deep into Ohio State territory. Moye caught a deep post for another first down on the 16 yard line. Belton kept the ball on the Wildcat and put PSU at first and goal at the four; the Lions scored one play later. 17-7 Penn State midway through the second quarter.

Hall took the kick out to the 27, where Braxton and the Buckeyes opened with “Dave” and no gain. Braxton took a two yard loss on a sack, and an incomplete pass led to the Ohio State punt. Sigh.

Orian Johnson intercepted the tipped McGloin pass, and the Buckeye offense returned to the field on their 37 yard line. First down run, second down saw Braxton keep the ball on the option down to the eight yard line. Carlos Hyde picked up no yardage on the Wildcat on first down; Braxton picked up two on second down, but Braxton remembered that Jake Stoneburner plays for Ohio State and found him in the end zone for the score.

Penn State opened up on the 22 yard line, and Jonathan Hankins stopped the Lions run for no gain. Curtis Drake kept the ball out of the Wildcat, and scampered down to the Ohio State forty yard line. Green picked up six yards and two yards in consecutive runs between the tackles; a good spot on third down gave PSU another first down. PSU moved back 5 yards after a delay of game, Redd’s three yard gain set up second and 12, third and 12 after a big stop. On third and twelve, Travis Howard upended Green after a short swing out of the backfield. With time running out, PSU kicked a 46 yard field goal to head to the locker room up 20-14.

Halftime’s festivities also included TBDBITL’s long time Director Dr. Woods being chosen to dot the I in Script Ohio. Great moment for the band, as well as a fitting send off of a legend at Ohio State.

Ohio State started the second half with the ball, and opened up on the 24 yard line. The first down “Dave” play suffered due to a tripped offensive lineman, and only gained a yard. Philly Brown made a play on a ball after a Braxton scramble for an Ohio State first down. Braxton was sacked on first down; Penn State continued their first half game plan of bringing pressure and run-blitzes on first down. A second down option was stopped after a short gain; on third down Michael Brewster’s second bad snap of the game resulted in a scramble that fell short of the first down. Penn State was flagged for blocking in the back on the ensuing punt, and started their next series on their own 20.

Silas Redd picked up seven yards on the Wildcat run, and McGloin’s second down toss was for no gain. The PSU counter picked up the first down and gained enough yards to put PSU near midfield. Ryan Shazier tripped up the Wildcat sweep on first, Tyler Moeller gobbled up the Wildcat keeper. Third down finally found an OSU stop with solid coverage; PSU punted to the OSU 10 yard line, where an apparent catch interference was overlooked.

Jordan Hall’s Wildcat keeper picked up six yards, but the next play resulted in a fumbled handoff and a Penn State recovery at the OSU eleven.

Jonathan Hankins continued the brain lapses with a false start to give PSU a first and goal at the six. Ryan Shazier buried the Wildcat dive, and Matt McGloin’s roll out/jump pass resulted in a defensive hold on Travis Howard- first and goal at the OSU 3. Fullback dive only gained a yard, and was stuffed on second down as well. McGloin was buried on the QB sneak on third down. The TB dive on fourth was hit in the backfield for a huge goal line stand- The stop that the Buckeyes needed at just the right time.

Boom’s first down run from the endzone put him out past the ten, and a second yard dash move him closer to another first down. Carlos Hyde picked up the necessary yardage, and the Buckeye offense were beginning to pick up some momentum. That would be short lived, though- Hyde fumbled on the next play and Penn State recovered on the OSU forty five yard line.

Green was dropped for a loss of two on a stretch play for PSU, and the subsequent fullback screen picked up two yards. A third yard dump off was stopped short of the first down, and PSU punted Ohio State to their own two yard line.

Boom picked up two coming out of his endzone as the quarter came to an end. Boom churned for another two yards, while Braxton got the first down on a QB option keeper. Jordan Hall’s two yards on the first down draw set up a second down that saw a pass to Devier Posey for a first down on a deep comeback. Braxton’s QB keeper was stopped after two yards, and he short hopped the next pass to Jordan Hall. A perfectly thrown ball to Philly Brown on the 10 yard line was dropped, and the Buckeyes needed to punt; PSU would start on their 25 yard line.

A Wildcat keeper by PSU led to a six yard gain; the Lions picked up the additional yardage on the following play. A run got four yards, before the Lions’ false started and moved back for a second and eleven. PSU’s running back screen was well developed and made it first and ten at the PSU 47. Belton’s keeper was good for two yards and a dive picked up three more. Penn State was grinding clock and yardage, while the Buckeyes’ hopes were lifted when a wide open PSU fullback dropped the ball and forced the Lions to punt- OSU ball on their own 13 yard line.

Boom ripped off 13 yards on the opening play, seven and two on the following two plays. The third down dive gave the Buckeyes a first down. A botched snap turned into a magical play- Braxton picked up 22 yards on an amazing scramble, and showed why so many OSU fans are excited about the future of the program. Boom was good for three more on first down, but another bobbled snap short circuited a WR screen to DeVier Posey. Miller picked up all but four of the necessary yards, and the Buckeyes elected to go for it on fourth down.

It was at this time that JB Shugarts chose to have his weekly false start, making it 4th and 10 for the game. Braxton’s scramble came up just short, and Penn State took over on downs.

PSU’s offense started with a false start, and on first and fifteen PSU’s run was stopped for one yard. Green’s run was good for three, but the next play gained no yardage due to the Shazier play, and OSU awaited PSU’s punt, which went out of bounds at the 35.

Braxton avoided the sack, but was called for intentional grounding on first down. After a loss of down and a ten second run off, Braxton’s next pass was out of bounds as PSU dropped into heavy coverage. A deep toss was caught by Devin Spencer, but was stripped away at the last second. OSU’s final pass fell incomplete, and the Lions walked away with the victory.

Ohio State faces Michigan in The Game next week, and travels to Ann Arbor for the end of the regular season.

Penn State spent a good portion of the early part of the season struggling to find an offensive identity. Has the coaching staff worked out some of the kinks, or is the PSU offense still a work in progress?

MMMMMMMoxieeeee!!!

The offense suffered a pretty big hit this past week losing Mike McQueary’s services on the sideline. He was the guy running the show, calling in the plays, substitutions, personnel packages. Granted, the reasons for his absence dwarf the problems on the field last week. But it’s the football-related answer to your question. Silas Redd has become the offense since late September, but he suffered a minor shoulder injury this week that kept him out of practice so far. He should be ready to go for the game this weekend, as he’s the most physically well-conditioned player I’ve seen in a long time. The guy was averaging 28 carries over three weeks in October, yet still churned out 100-yard games like it was nothing. However, Redd hasn’t been able to win games on his own. The quarterbacks have to be at least functional. And whatever the view on Matt McGloin may be, he’s the starting quarterback now. As long as McGloin avoids stupid mistakes, he can be a decent game-manager. That’s all Penn State needs in a quarterback, but hasn’t gotten much of it against decent opponents this season.

Whispers are that Silas Redd may not be healthy enough to play on Saturday, and it was announced that McGloin will be the starter (rather than sharing time with Bolden) – How does that impact the Lion Offense against Ohio State?

Redd’s arm would have to be amputated for him to miss the game. He will play. Redd was suffering from a stinger during the Northwestern game. It was widely reported coaches would only give him 15 or so carries against Illinois. Redd got the ball 30 times for 137 yards and a touchdown against the Illini. The gameplan shouldn’t change against Ohio State. Not that Redd will get 30 carries. But some of the emotion from last week will have settled down a bit this week, which should in-turn settle down the offense. Plus, getting away from State College might end up being a good thing for this team, despite the almost guaranteed heckling Ohio State fans will heap upon them from the moment they get off the bus. Ed- hopefully not.

This season, Penn State has anchored itself on the play of a solid defensive unit. Other than our own offensive coordinator, who does the OSU offense have to worry about while they’re on the field?

Thank God Braxton's Mobile

I’m not sure Penn State has ever had two defensive tackles so dominant as Devon Still and Jordan Hill. On more than a few occasions, the two have saved Penn State’s ass, including batted passes on third and fourth down, tackles for loss at key junctures of the games, and general mayhem wrought upon opposing offensive lines. If Ohio State doesn’t triple-team Still, or call plays specifically designed to neutralize him (Purdue did this somewhat effectively, but still couldn’t completely shut down the DTs), I’d be surprised if the Buckeyes topped 120 total rushing yards.

We were sorry to see Joe Pa end his storied career on such a sour note. Is Tom Bradley the long term successor for Joe, or do you see someone else taking the job in the near future? It would be crazy if Jay Paterno were to take over the program at the end of the season. Is this even a possibility?

Penn State has to clean house after this season. There might be a few holdovers, but even Bradley won’t escape the sweep. My money is on Al Golden. He retains just enough connection to Penn State to satisfy the commitment to the program’s history, but has been removed from Happy Valley for so long (1991) that it would be very close to a completely “outside” hire. My guess, provided that situation comes to fruition, is that Ron Vanderlinden would be asked to stay to coach the linebackers; Larry Johnson, Sr. has said forever that he’s out once Joe retired; but I’m not sure who else wouldn’t be too toxic to keep on the staff.

We’re asking everyone- If the B1G chooses to expand, who would you like to add? Why?

Rutgers and Notre Dame. This is my personal preference. Most friends/fans I talk to hate this idea. But what do I care? The Big Ten could have taken three or five teams last time around, but ended up with only Nebraska. No major programs now remain to scoop up. Why not go with a decent eastern program, together with the most popular football team in the history of the sport? Put personal prejudices against either team (especially ND) aside for a moment. They’re really the only two viable options left on the table, particularly since Pitt and Syracuse are gone.

Ohio State fans, of all people, understand that the truth regarding a situation may not be what the media is presenting. What’s one aspect of the current matter that is being misrepresented or under reported?

Coverage? Sales?

Allow me to offer this disclaimer: Paterno should have done more and deserved to be forced out. As for the media, the tone and focus has shifted somewhat over the past few days. But the damage had been done during the first 120 hours. Joe Paterno was the story because he was the household name. Think about it. “Sandusky” or “Spanier” won’t sell papers, get ratings, or rake in the hits the way “Paterno” would in a headline. By focusing the story on Paterno from the beginning, it swung the spotlight away from those equally or even more responsible for allowing the problem to continue all these years–the likes of Graham Spanier, Gary Shultz and Tim Curley. Also, the board of trustees did a fabulous job last week wringing its collective hands of any blood. So many more people needed to be fired last week–but weren’t.

There are so many more angles to this story, I’m getting tired just writing this. My favorite quote of the past 11 days has to be Joe Posnanski’s, “everyone’s trying to out-anger each other.” The nation is tripping over itself to prove who can be the MOST anti-child abuse, as if any sane human being alive is FOR child abuse. In its collective desire to make themselves look good, I’ve seen a nation and its media embarrass themselves. Didn’t think it was possible, but never underestimate the hundreds of nationally-syndicated columnists who always seem to know how to fix everything.

In the end, I strongly suggest reading BSD’s coverage of this, which has been remarkably fair and grounded in reality. Click the section front “#PSUCharges” and you’ll get all the stories we’ve posted on the Sandusky situation. That includes my salvo against the media coverage last week.